The New Kid - Chapter 5: Hmmm...

**Blake’s Point of View**
We were walking down the halls after lunch to see what Ariel had won. She was so happy and excited, I love seeing her like that. A million thoughts about her and me with her raced through my head and I wondered if she felt the same way. Maybe I’m just lonely… Ugh, what do I do?

**Ariel’s Point of View**
I looked up on the main bulletin board to see what I won. It listed everyone prizes except for mine. Under my name it gave me instructions to talk to Mrs. Lense. Claire and Blake followed behind me to the classroom. I think they were more excited than I was.
"Hell, Mrs. Lense! The paper on the board said to meet you here."
"Oh, yes, about your prizes…"
"Prizes?" Claire asked her.
"Yes, there are two. Prize one is this 25$ gift card to best buy, but prize two out does it." I took the card and let her continue. "For prize two you have been entered in a nation-wide student photography competition. We have sent in your photo, and if you are chosen to be in the top ten you are asked to send in five more photos. If you win 1st place you get a 5,000$ scholarship."

I was shocked and so excited; I could barely move. I thanked her and left the room with my friends. The bell rang, Claire walked one way to her class, while Blake walked with me to Mr. Canson’s history class.
"So, Claire…" He bagan. "Do - Are you excited about the competition?" he asked, stumbling on his words like he wanted to say something else. Maybe it was just me dreaming again.
"Yeah, I really hope I get chosen. I have to send in five other photos though… I have no idea what I will send in."
"well good luck!" He laughed and scratched his head… probably thinking of what to say next. It was quiet the rest of the way to Mr. Canson’s.

"Good afternoon, class." Canson began "I’m assigning a new project today. For this, you will need pairs, but before we go there let me elaborate. You are doing a research paper on a President, War, or important event in our American History. The paper MUST be a minimum of 5 pages in size 12 font. Now, let’s see…" Mr. Canson began to scan the room glancing at his paper every once in a while. "Blake. You may choose your partner first." Blake stood up. Once he did, two girls in the back began fighting over which one of them he’d pick.
"Uh," He paused and looked directly at me. My heart started racing and butterflies pounded on the walls of my stomach. "Ariel is my partner."
"Ok, you may go sit next to her and begin working." Mr. Canson wrote our names on the board mumbling them as he did. Blake followed as he ordered and moved a vacant desk next to mine. Canson stared at him, but did nothing and continued on with pairing up the groups.

"Hey." Was all he said as he sat down.
"Hi… Um, what do you want to do the… um, project on?" I struggled for words. I usually said exactly what I wanted to around guys I like, but Blake was staring in directly in my eyes… he was just different.
"I don’t know, something in history of course."
"No, duh." I continued sarcastically.
"Alright, class, we all have our partners… Let’s discuss rules." Mr. Canson began. The rest of history was terribly boring, all he did was talk about rules and guidelines and all stuff we learned how to do when we wrote our first high school essay freshman year. It felt like YEARS before the bell rang, but when it did Blake got up with me and walked me to my next class. Of course, his was a few doors down.
"Hey, Ariel," He said before going to his room. "James and I are going to see that new movie after school. He had the idea to ask you and Claire to come along. Would you want to?"

"Sure, that would be cool." Of course it wouldn’t be cool… it would be freaking amazing, but I wouldn’t let him know that.
"Alright, awesome, I’ll see you after school then."
"Yep, I’ll let Claire know."
"OK, Later."
"C-ya." I could barley make it through my Spanish class. It felt like torture to sit in that plastic chair beneath a stupid wooden desk. UGH!! The bell finally, after what felt like hours of meaningless time. I swear I ran out that door faster that you could blink and grabbed Claire. My words sped out of my mouth "HEY! Do you wanna go see that new movie tonight? Because Blake and James invited us to go…" I slowed down and lowered my voice "And I know you like James because I saw the way you looked at him during lunch."

She playfully hit my arm in her ‘how did you know that’ way and repeated "HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?!" loud enough that the entire school heard it. I covered her mouth quickly.
"Because I know you too well… It’s the same as when you figured out that I like –" she pulled my hand off her mouth, covered mine, and pointed behind me. When I turned around I saw Blake walking up to us.
"Hey, girls, do want to ride with us?"
"No," Claire answered before I could say yes. I turned around and looked at her surprised, but I then realized she wanted me to tell her EXACTLY how I knew she liked James. "We’re already riding together. Sorry, Blake."
"Nah, don’t be. It’s chill. We’ll see you there than. Later."
I waved and turned back towards Claire. "Come on, let’s go."
As soon as I closed my door she asked "So how exactly did you know? I covered it up the best I could!"

"Why?"
"Because I want to know."
"No, why did you cover it up?"
"Oh, because I thought you’d be mad."
"Why would I be mad. James and I are not dating anymore, I don’t care!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I’m sure."
"OK, good now spill, how did you know." I began to explain everything I noticed.

**Blake’s Point of View**
We waited for Claire and my Ariel to arrive in front of the theater … not my Ariel, but I wish she was. Who am I kidding… UGH, she’d never go out with someone like me after all the football drama she’s gone through. She is coming tonight however, and that’s what matters most right now.
"Hey, guys!" I heard someone call, I turned around and noticed it was Claire. If it was Ariel I would have know. Her voice is so distinct to me; I would be able to hear it in a crowd of arguing people. James and I opened the doors for them both, of course he was staring at Claire’s butt the whole time, poor girl had no idea. I shouldn’t point fingers, I guess, I did have a hard time not looking at Ariel’s. We got to our seats and Ariel sat right next to me, Claire next to her, and James next to Claire. The movie was awesomely terrifying, but when the lights came on I found myself holding onto a terrified Ariel. It seemed like she was completely oblivious too, because when she realized it she jumped up and smiled a little embarrassed. I love her smile, it’s stunning.

"What did you think?" I asked Ariel as the four of us walked outside.
"It was scary!"
"I think we all know YOU thought that." James piped in. He was referring to the fact she was wrapped in my arms. She hit him for it; that was pretty funny, and he deserved it. I told her and Claire goodbye, James hugged them both, and we were on our way. I took James back to my house to pick up his car. All in all the night was pretty awesome.